Adjustable foundry slip box



Aug. 19, 1958 R. w. ERLBACHER ADJUSTABLE FOUNDRY SLIP Box Filed Jan. 31, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /A/x/ENTOR ROBERT MERLE/:CHE

bja/S Aug 19, 1958 R. w. ERLBAcHl-:R

ADJUSTABLEv FOUNDRY SLIP Box Filed Jan. 31, 1955 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 2,847,740 ADJUSTABLE FOUNDRY SLIP BOX Robert W. Erlbacher, Cape Girardeau,

Cape Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Missouri Mo., assignor to Cape Girardeau, Mo.,

This invention relates to improvements in a foundry slip boxand, in particular, is concerned with a. slip box in which the sides have self-adjusting features. This selfadjusting feature makes possible the partial pivotal operation of one side with respect to another and permits of a further angular change of the sides themselves with respect to one another.

The present invention is an improvement on my prior United States Patent No. 2,473,140, patented lune 14, 1949, in which the sides of the slip box were designed for self-adjusting features. ln this prior slip box, the contiguous sides were connected by a pivot pin which was opposed by spaced stop means to limit the pivotal and angular change of the sides.

By means of the present invention, the pivoting features for each one of the sides have been integrated into a special type of pivot pin which mates with an opening about a fulcrum point which permits of the pivotal operation with a selected pivot limitation point defined by the sides of the opening. lt has been found that, `by integrating the pivot pin with the associated stop feature of this invention, there need be no other limiting means on the slip box. Also, through the use of this invention the slip `box may be made with side pieces of adjustable effective length through the provision of several characterized openi i each side piece. This permits of use on s and shapes of molds.

means of this invention, there has been provided a self-adjusting slip box having a centrally located pivot design for each one of the sides of the box, which greatly reduces the possibility of disrepalr. Further, the slip box with the pivot feature of this invention is simple to construct and is extremely rugged in operation, while permitting of use hy unskilled workmen with lessened chances o t' faulty operation.

These slip boxes are designed to be used over molds in casting operations to contain the sides of the molds against expansion in this operation. The slip box is conventionally oureided, although it is to be understood that more sides can be used where desired. The box is open at the top and the bottom and is of frustum-pyramidal configuration, such that each side is slightly inclined toward the others. However, it is to be understood that a box with vertical sides can `be used. When the slip box is fitted over a mating mold, it must be so aligned that it does not crush the mold or cause the same to shift. y means of the present invention whereby the individual sides are adapted to be partially pivoted and moved out of square, slight variations in mold configuration can be provided for by the self-adjusting features of the box. Thus, Athrough the provision of this slip box, the sides of the box are permitted to be moved to accommodate slight irregularities or imperfections in the configuration of the mold. Thus, this pivotable and shifting feature for the sides can be made by the specially `designed pins and the mating opening for the pins in the slip box sides through the design of special fulcrum in a generally 2,847,740 Patented Aug. 19, 1958 lice these openings, which permits of the partial rotation about the pin and movement of the sides of square alignment.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a slip box in which 'the sides can be slightly adjusted with respect to one another by a novel pin arrangement wherein the pin tits through an opening in a contiguous side for partial rotation through limiting positions.

lt is still a further object of this invention to provide a slip box having sides which are self-adjusting through the provision of a rotation-providing means and stop means which are in association with one another as an integral unit.

lt is still another object of this invention 'to provide a slip box in which the lengths of the sides may be varied in an extremely simple and expeditious manner.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a slip box in which the sides are self-adjusting through the provision of a pin fitting through an opening which permits of partial rotation of the pin between the range of stop limits.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a slip box having sides which are movable with respect to one another in which a pin at the end of one side ts through an opening in an overlapping end portion of an adjacent side and wherein the opening has an apex or fulcrum surface to permit partial rotation of the pin and its side with respect to the side having the opening through a preselected range.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a slip box having self-adjusting sides in which the self-adjusting feature may `be provided through a pin and mating opening on the adjacent sides for each corner of the box and in which the opening can be made through a single forming operation.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a slip box having selfadjusting sides in which the adjusting feature is provided by a single pin and mating opening in the sides forming each corner of the box whereby a rugged, efficient and simple operating slip box is obtained which has long lasting qualities of service and is easy to manufacture.

Still further objects of this invention will appear in the detailed description which follows and will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Reference will now 'be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating several embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that these drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and that the invention is not limited thereto.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the slip box;

Figure 2 is a View in front elevation of the slip box;

Figure 3 is an enlarged View in section showing one or" the pivot pins at the corner of the tbox taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in section similar to Figure 3 taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged View in section taken on the line SS of Figure 4 showing the locking of the pin in the opening at the corner of the slip box;

Figure 6 is a view taken similarly to Figure 4 showing how one corner of the box is adapted 'to be bent out of square `to an acute angle;

Figure 7 is a View taken similarly to Figure 6 showing how one corner is adapted to be shifted out of square to an obtuse angle;

Figure 8 is a view taken similarly to Figure 5 showing another modification of the pivot pin and mating opening;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a moditied form of a slip box in which the effective length of the side pieces may be varied.

In Figures 1 and 2 the slip box is generally indicated at 20. The box, for a square slip box, comprises four identical sides 21, 22, 23 and 24. However, it is to be understood that oblong slip boxes can be employed, as will appear more fully below. These sides may be of channel-shaped, corrugated, V-groove, or other conguration or plain, in iron, steel, aluminum, magnesium, or any suitable metal or material, from sheets, plates or castings, and are secured to one another in an overlapping arrangement.

This overlapping securing of the sides is accomplished in such a manner that the end of each side abuts against the base 25 of the channel-shaped side of the member adjacent to it. Thus, the upstanding portions, or flanges, 26 and 27 at the bottom and top of each side, respectively, are in abutting relationship with the inside of the base portion 25 at each corner.

The overlapping end portion for each side is designated 30 while the overlapped and opposite end portion for each side is designated 31. Since all the sides are symmetrical, the same numbers will be used for like parts on each side.

The novel pin device of this invention is best shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. The pin itself is indicated at 32 and is secured to the overlapped end of the side piece 3l by welding 33 or other conventional fastening means. The pin 32 is of a half oval cross section configuration in whih the base portion is ilat and is cut along the major axis of the oval. The base or at side 34 of the pin faces against the at base of the side piece. The pin is so secured to the overlapped end portion 31 so that it extends therebeyond as shown in Figure 3, and spaced from the end of the overlapped portion 31 a slightly greater distance than the thickness of the base 25 is a hole for the insertion of a cotter pin 35. This cotter pin 35 has a straight leg 36 and a longer leg 37 which can be spread apart so as to retain the cotter pin in place.

The overlapping end portion 30 of each side piece is provided with an opening generally indicated at 40. This opening is best shown in Figure where it is seen that it is of a generally oval configuration on the surface 41 except that the oval surface extends somewhat beyond the oval portion of the pin which tits therethrough. It will be noted that this opening, and all other embodiments which follow, has its longest axis parallel to the overlapped end. The other side of the opening comprises two inclined surfaces 42 and 43 which meet at an apex 44 called the fulcrurn point. The width of the opening from the fulcrum point 44 to the oval surface 4l directly opposite it is slightly greater than the greatest width of the pin 32 in order to provide for partial rotation of the pin within the opening about the fulcrum point 44.

The overlapped end 31 of one side is secured to the overlapping end 30 of the immediately adjacent side of the corner of the slip box by inserting the pin 32 through the opening 40. After this has been done the corner is secured by inserting the cotter pin 35 such that the straight leg 36 abuts against the outside surface of the base of the side piece and the leg 37 is then spread apart. This positions the end portion between the cotter pin and the overlapped end 31 of the adjacent side piece and evenly distributes wear stresses along the entire length of the leg 36.

Another modification of the pin arrangement is shown in Figure 8 in which a pin 60 is secured to the overlapped end portion 31 in the same manner as previously described. The overlapping portion 30 of the side piece has an opening 61 which is of a partially oval configuration. Thus, the outside surface 62 is generally oval, but terminates on the opposite side in a at base 63. This opening is slightly longer and slightly wider than the oval pin 60 to permit of partial rotation and slightly angular change of the end overlapped portion 31 with respect to the overlapping portion 30.

In Figure 9 there is shown a slip box 90 in which each side piece is provided with a plurality of openings, designated 91, 92 and 93. All of the other elements of this box are similar to those described for Figures l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, and like reference numerals are utilized. All of these openings are of the same size and shape as opening 40 to accommodate pin 32.

It will be particularly noted that these openings are spaced from one another on a horizontal axis 94. However, all of these openings are so arranged in a slightly tilted manner that their longest axis is parallel to the overlapped end. This preserves the inclination of the side pieces and to the inclination of the mating side piece at each joint. This makes possible the maintenanceof the taper of the box when the side pieces are adjusted for different lengths. lt is, of course, to be understood that where a vertical side slip box is employed, these openings when arranged on a horizontal axis 94 will then be parallel to the vertical mating side piece. Although only one form of these plural openings has been shown, it should be clear that the modification of Figure 8 is employed in the same manner as above described.

It should be obvious, because of the rectangular configuration of the slip box, that the stop means described will provide the desired limiting movement equally well, if provided on only opposite joints of a slip box. Thus, there could be a staggering of the stop means on every other joint between the side pieces for a multisided slip box.

Operation The slip box is utilized by placing the bottom of the box over the top of the mold and then carefully lowering it downwardly over the mold. As this operation is carried out, the individual sides 2.1;, 22, 23 and 24 can be partially rotated one With respect to another about the pivot pins. Thus, where desired, opposite sides such as 21 and 23, or 22 and 24 can be pivoted toward one another at their top so as to enlarge the bottom opening when placed over the mold. Likewise the side pieces can be moved slightly out of square so that the corners assume the positions shown in Figures 6 and 7. Thus, slight irregularities in the mold can be tolerated without breaking off corners of the mold or crushing it;

For the embodiment of the pin shown in Figures l through 7, it will be apparent from referring to Figure 5 that the side piece, by the provision of pin 32, can rotate in a slight degree counterclockwise about the fulcrum point 44, or clockwise. In the former operation the flat side 34 at the top of the pin will abut and be stopped in its movement by the flat surface 42 of the opening, whereas in the clockwise movement the at side 34 will abut against the lower flat side 43. lt will also be noted that the thickness of the opening between the fulcrum point 44 and the opposite side of the oval surface, as shown in Figure 5, permits of this rotation and also of the movement of one side angularly with respect to another as shown in Figures 6 and 7. Likewise, the spacing of the cotter pin 35 in the opening provided in the pin 32 with respect to the end of the overlapped portion 3l makes possible this out of square movement and also a slight enlargement of the slip box to provide for its self-adjustment.

In the modification of Figure 8 the rotational position is limited due to the confining relationship of the oval opening for the oval pin 60. Thus, freedom of movement in the degree required is possible through this design in a somewhat different manner than that previously described for the'other types of pins. However, the limiting movement of the pin in the opening 6i is defined by the surfaces of the opening itself as in the previous cases, and it will be observed that the side of the oval pin contacting the at side 63 acts as its own fulcrum point.

The slip box of Figure 9 permits of very simple size adjustment to accommodate different sizes and shapes of molds. Thus, four-sided molds which are either square or oblong can be fitted with the same slip box. It should be obvious that the effective dimensions of the slip box can be changed for any two opposite sides of the box independently of the remaining two opposite sides while maintaining the squared corners. Thus, for example, for the slip box 90 of Figure 9, the openings 91 could be utilized for sides 24 and 22, while openings 91, 92 or 93 could be employed for sides 21 and 23, as long as the same numbered openings are used for both of these latter sides. A

There have been shown in this description of the invention a number of pins which can be used in openings to effect the partial rotation of one side piece of a slip box with respect to another. In these embodiments the limiting operation is effected by the limiting surfaces of the slightly larger opening to the degree desired. It will be apparent that other pins can be utilized Within the scope of this invention as such obvious changes in the `structure of the pin in the openings are within the skill of the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A slip box having a plurality of separate sides forming a closure, said sides mating with one another in substantially end-wise relation to form a plurality of corners, and jointure means on at least one of said corners comprising a pin having an arcuate cross-section and extending on one side in mating relation with an arcuate opening provided in an abutting side, said arcuate opening having a configuration conforming generally to the cross section of said pin and having an arcuate bearing surface on a side opposed from a fulcrum point for loosely supporting the pin in load bearing relation and being of slightly larger dimension than the pin for the partial rotation of said pin therein between preselected limits.

2. A slip box having a plurality of separate sides forming a closure, said sides mating with one another in substantially end-wise relation to form a plurality of corners, and jointure means on at least one of said corners comprising a pin having an arcuate cross-section and extending on one side in mating relation with an arcuate opening provided in an abutting side, said pin having at least one fiat side which bears against a fulcrum point on said opening, said fulcrum being defined by a surface of said opening which falls away on either side from the fulcrum point in the middle of said surface, said arcuate opening otherwise having a configuration conforming generally to the cross section of said pin and having arcuate surface means on a side opposed from the fulcrum point for loosely supporting the pin in load bearing relation and being of slightly larger dimension than the pin for the partial rotation of said pin therein about said fulcrum point.

3. A slip box having a plurality of separate sides forming a closure, said sides mating with one another in substantially end-wise relation to form a plurality of corners, and jointure means on at least one of said corners cornprising a pin having an arcuate cross-section and extending on one side in mating relation with an arcuate opening provided in an abutting side, said pin having at least one flat side which bears against a fulcrum point on said opening, said fulcrum being defined by a surface of said opening which falls away on either side from the fulcrum point in the middle of said surface, said arcuate opening otherwise having a configuration conforming generally to the cross section of said pin and having arcuate surface means on a side opposed from the fulcrum point for loosely supporting the pin in load bearing relation and being of slightly larger dimension than the pin for the partial rotation of said pin therein about said fulcrum point between preselected limits dened by the surface of said opening which falls away from said fulcrum point.

4. A slip box having a plurality of separate sides forming a closure, said sides mating with one another in substantially end-wise relation to form a plurality of corners, and jointure means on at least one of said corners comprising a pin having an arcuate cross-section and extending on one side in mating relation with an arcuate opening provided in an abutting side, said pin being of a half oval cross section with a substantially flat base which bears against a fulcrum point on said opening, said fulcrum being defined by a surface of said opening which falls away on either side from the fulcrum point in the middle of said surface, said arcuate opening otherwise having a configuration conforming generally to the cross section of said pin and being of slightly larger dimension `for the partial rotation of said pin therein about said fulcrum point.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,096,449 Nute n May 12, 1914 1,271,752 Nute July 9, 1918 2,050,778 Bester Aug. 1l, 1936 

